Friday Five
As the coronavirus pandemic rages on for longer than most of us had braced ourselves for, you may be feeling the effects of how much your mental health has deteriorated. If you’re noticing the emotional weight the pandemic has been packing on, you’re not alone. Even as early as March, when the pandemic first hit the U.S., a poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that nearly half of Americans were feeling the impacts of Covid-19 on their mental health. And that was in March.
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The idea of “self-care” might conjure up cheesy images of binging on wine and impulse shopping, but truly attending to our mental health is vital to surviving in our new reality. So don’t diss the bubble baths and face masks (no, not that kind). More than ever, we’re in need of indulging ourselves in a little fun, rest, and relaxation. So, why not set aside a day for a little emotional tune-up?
There are lots of healthy ways to recenter yourself with a little TLC, from mental to physical activities that you can do both at home and (safely) out in the world. Wherever your comfort level is, whatever your budget may be, and whether you have an hour or a day — we have a list to get you inspired.
1. Play tourist in your own city
Right now, there are a lot less tourists than the average San Francisco summer. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy some of the city’s most iconic outdoor spots that are usually swarming with people, in relative peace. Bring lunch and your camera to Alamo Square, spend an afternoon in the Botanical Garden or the Japanese Tea Gardens, or finally get the perfect cheesy photo at the Golden Gate bridge. The Botanical Garden has recently “safely reopened” and the Japanese Tea Garden is open with “modifications.” If you don’t want to venture outside, many museums are offering online experiences, like SFMOMA and the de Young. Put on your wildest outfit and pretend to be someone else for the day, enjoying the city with brand new eyes.
2. If aromatherapy is your thing
There are a number of locally owned shops that will get your senses tingling as soon as you walk in the door. The sensory signal of essential oils like lavender tells the brain to slow down, and has been shown to help with sleep, depression, and even solving math problems. Try a local shop like Heliotrope on Valencia in the Mission, or if you’re feeling fancy, head out to Half Moon Bay Lavender or even Pastorino Farms. At Half Moon Bay Lavender, you can buy your own lavender plants, bundles of dried lavender, and more.
There’s something about having your own lavender plant that makes you feel like an easy, breezy self-care goddess (unless you kill it like I did, which has the opposite effect).
3. See a movie at the drive-in theater
There’s been a huge resurgence in the drive-in theater this summer. If one of your favorite self-care activities before the pandemic was going to the movies, then seeing a flick at the drive-in could be the perfect change from watching movies on your couch. There are a number of drive-ins not too far outside the city, like the West Wind chains in Concord, San Jose, and Sacramento. Bring some pillows, blankets, and snacks, and maybe even pop the trunk. Or, if you have some outdoor space at home, you can build your own “drive-in”: throw up a sheet, bring out the projector, and enjoy your own private screening. Either way, it’s going to be a better movie-going experience than watching something with your laptop on your chest.
4. Catch the sunset or sunrise at your favorite lookout
If you’ve been cooped up for too long, one of the best ways to feel a part of the city again is to go out and get a real good look at it. If you can get yourself out of bed early enough to catch the sunrise, you’ll be able to watch the city come alive in relative solitude. Corona Heights Park is one of my favorite spots to catch panoramic views of the city (if the fog decides to cooperate that day). Or, head out to more popular spots like Twin Peaks or Lands End. Bring a notebook, a fleece, a blanket, and have a peaceful start to your morning. Alternatively, go at the end of the day. There’s nothing quite like watching the sun disappear over the Pacific Ocean to calm you down and take in the glittering wonder of the Bay Area.
5. Go to your special spot in the city
One of the best things you can do when you’re feeling down is to lean on nostalgia and comfort. If you’ve been in survival mode these past few months, spend the day doing a little reflection and getting back in touch with yourself. Take yourself to your spot in the city — whether it’s a place you have fond memories of growing up, or a formative spot from when you first moved here. If it still exists and is safe to visit right now, go. If you can’t go, find a calm spot with a notebook to write about it. Connecting with your pre-pandemic world can be helpful for making it through all the uncertainty.
With all the uncertainty in our world these days, hopefully these activities can cheer you up and break up the monotony of quarantine. Even the simple act of putting something on your calendar for the weekend can lift your spirits all week by giving you something to look forward to. You don’t have to keep wearing the same pajamas and sitting, frozen, in the same corner of your house for days on end. Or do, if that’s what’s working for you right now — you pay enough rent for it!
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